Alberta’s First Female Premier Sworn in

Not everybody liked it.

Alison Redford was sworn in as Premier of Alberta on Friday, becoming the first woman to officially lead the province. After a close and drawn-out battle with rival Tory Gary Mar, Redford became the leader of the province’s governing Progressive Conservative party. Redford vowed to reign in spending while prioritizing health care and education. Several cabinet ministers were absent among the bagpipes, including Finance Minister Lloyd Snelgrove, former finance minister Ted Morton, and Environment Minister Rob Renner. Energy Minister Ron Liepert was also absent, after publicly criticizing the new premier over an inquiry into coercion in the health system. Liepert said he'd support Redford and that he also missed Stelmach’s swearing in ceremony. Because if you’re going to be derelict in your duties, it’s best to be consistent.